Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-12-16
MARK TWAIN'S DOCTOR.
Gibson, the Original of the Medical Man
In "Innocents Abroad"


In "Innocents Abroad
DR.. William NJ Gibson, who died in
jamestown. Pa. not long ago. was the
original of 1.-The Doctor" in Mark
Twain's "lnnocents Abroad" d.. A.
Reeves Jackson. formerly of Strands
burg, Pa, now of Chicago. who was a
member of the excursion party, has
been widely credited with being the
original of the character.
Il had it from the lips of Mark
Twain himself" saws prominent resi-
dent of this city. "that DR.. Gibson was
the doctor of the story. l was edit
ing the Times at Sharon, Mercer Coun-
ty, at that time. 1t was ten years ago
Mark Twain came to that place to lect-
ure. and he and | became very we'll
acquainted. Some time aftprward he
returned to Sharon and spent several
days with me. gave dinner in his
honor, and invited number of promi-
nent citizens to meet him. Surprising.
as matter of course, that the two fell
low-voyagers would be pleased to see
one another and recount incidents of
their trip, invited DR.. Gibson also, his
residence being but few miles from
Sharon. told Twain that | had in
vited the doctor. expecting to be re-
warded with great approval from the
great humorist On the contrary, he
didn't look a bit glad, and shaking his
head. said in that mirth-provoking
drawl of his:
"'Well, that's all right. l suppose.
but don't know how Gibson and l
will get along together We don t
speak.
THAT was a setback for me. and
the only hope had was that DR.. G b.
son would be moved by the delicacy
of the situation. and stay away. But
he didn't He came as big as life.
He didn't speak to Twain. and
Twain didn't speak to him. The
consequence was that what l had
counted on to be one of the most de-
lightful and enjoyable of occasions.
and one long to be remem-
bered with pleasure by my fellow
citizens and myself was stupid
beyond description. The doctor
presence cast damper on the hole
proceeding, although he was COM
panionabe and desirable person to
have in any gathering. Mark Twain
made no speech and said nothing
funny. Two or three of my friends
tried to throw little spirit into tn e
ot lsion by neat speeches and happy
illusions, but it was of no use. The
dinner was a failure, and we arose
from the table-at least l did-feeling
as if the party had been funeral and
that we were the chief mourners.
Twain afterward told me what the
trouble was between him and the doc
tor. AS it is related in the Innocents
Abroad, on one occa sion during the
trip II committee was appointed to
present an address to the Gu II of Rus
STA Mark Twain wrote the address
and gave it to the committee to copy.
The comm tee tore it all to pieces with
changes of their own. Subsequently
the doctor went to Twain and made a
modest suggestion.
"'Let me take that address of
yours. he said, and I'll copy it off
I'll sign my name to it and you sign
yours, and We'll ignore the committee
and present it ourselves.
THE dsinteresled proposition was
not accepted by the humorist, and
when he wrote the book he gave the
doctor away by relating the incident.
That made Gibsop angry, and he
never got over ~
The death of Dir. Gibson brings 10
mind the fact that the original of Sir
Oracle in 'Innocents Abroad" was
then and still is resident of Harris
burg. in the person of the Hon. Jacob
S. Holden. He was Minister to Sweden,
under President Buchanan.
DR.. Gibson left fortune of ST. 900.
900. He had just erected monument
to himself mt a cost of 500. 900 =
Harrisburg (Pa) Cor. Boston Herald.